Of Love and Sacrifices

“ Sean… please… where are you taking me?...” Orlando anxiously asked Sean. The older man is silent all the time while driving the car. He has been driving for some time now and Orlando can clearly see that Sean has no intention of bringing him home.

“Please… y- you’re scaring me…Please not again…” It was almost a whisper. Orlando knew that he can do nothing if Sean is planning on something. The older man is far stronger than he is.

Sean heard the younger man. Orlando’s voice was filled with fear. He momentarily stopped the car in one side of the street then turned to face Orlando. “You know I would never do anything to hurt you…”

“Then where are you taking me?.... “

“Listen to me…” Sean held Orlando’s shoulders. “Don’t you understand? I’m trying to keep you safe… Safe from all those who would want to hurt you… I’m taking you far from here…”

Instead of feeling relief, Orlando felt so scared. “ No… No… Please don’t do this! I don’t want to go anywhere! I want to be with my family! Sean I want to be with Viggo and my son!”

He received a slap on the face for that. “Viggo… Viggo… Viggo! Why does it always have to be him?! He was not able to protect you when those men defiled you! He was not able to protect you from his own mother! And now Simon…He even believed that Simon has nothing to do with your kidnapping! No… I would never allow you to return to him! He is not worthy of having you! I was able to keep you safe from Simon! Who knows what will happen next! Who knows who will try to harm you next! Orlando… I could not bear it if you get hurt again!” Sean was already shouting at him.

“No… Sean… it’s not Viggo’s fault! He’s my husband… I love him!”

“You’ll forget about him.” Sean said calmly.

“W- what?....” Orlando was confused upon hearing this.

“You may not be able to see it now… But I will show you that it is I whom you should love…. Not Viggo…”

“L- love?.... S- Sean what are you talking about?” Now Orlando was more confused.

“I’m in love with you! I’ve been in love with you for the longest time! I love you since the first time I laid eyes on you! B- but it was obvious that you love Viggo… so I did not pursue you… I kept everything hidden… I tried to believe that Viggo is the right man for you… so I tried so hard to forget you… I just want you to be happy… but when you married him… all he did was to cause you pain….. Orlando…. I promise everything will change… Nobody will ever hurt you again….” Sean tried to hold Orlando’s face but the younger man avoided his touch.

“I… I never thought you felt that way… If I only knew… I should have avoided you… Sean… I could never love you…. I’m in love with Viggo! Please… try to understand!” Orlando explained. All he wanted right now is to be with Viggo and their son. Sean’s revelation is paining him. Never in his wildest imaginations did he ever think that Sean would feel that way towards him. “Sean… I’m so sorry….”

“No… Orlando… listen to me… let me prove how much I care… let me take care of you… we can get away from this place… you will never feel pain anymore. I will make you happy….”

“All I want is to be with my family!” Orlando was already crying.

Sean forcefully took one of his wrists and cuffed it on the car’s door.

“No! No! Please don’t do this! Sean!.....” Orlando panicked but he was able to do nothing to stop Sean.

“You will understand sooner… and you will learn to love me… “Sean replied before he continued driving.


Viggo was informed by the policemen who went to Simon’s hideout. He immediately went to the place. There was no sign of Orlando. But by just looking at the place, he can tell that someone was kept there. Simon was brought to the hospital and was still unconscious. The other man was also unconscious. He tried to call Sean several times but either nobody’s answering or it’s off.

“Wake up… Simon, please! I know you know where my husband is…” Viggo tried to shake the other man who was lying helpless on the hospital bed.

The doctor attending to Simon was able to see it.

“Mr. Mortensen! Stop it! You might hurt him!” The doctor said as he approached Viggo.

“Why is he still not waking up?! I need him awake!” Viggo replied furiously. He needs to talk to Simon. Every second counts!

“I’m sorry… b- but I’m afraid it’s not possible… Several drugs has been injected unto him and I still can’t tell when he is going to wake up… or if he ever will….” The doctor regretfully explained.

“B- but I need answers! My husband is in danger right now! And I am certain now that Simon has got something to do with this!”

“Y- you can talk to the other man… He might be awake sooner… as for Dr. Smith… I can not tell…”

“Please… doctor… I need your help…”

“I understand your concerns, Mr. Mortensen… we’ll do everything we can to help you.”


Orlando stopped begging Sean. He had been trying to convince him to release him for hours now but his pleas went on deaf ears. Sean just drove without even talking to him. After a while, Orlando fell asleep due to exhaustion. He was awakened when he felt the car stopped and the door in his side was opened. Sean removed his cuffs and was supposed to lift him when he protested.

“No! Don’t touch me!” Orlando shouted at him.

“Orlando… I know you’re tired... I am just trying to help you…”

“Then let me go home! Please, Sean… I…” Orlando was about to beg him again but he received a slap on the face.

“Stop talking to me of taking you home! I am not going to do that no matter how you beg!”

Their confrontation was interrupted when the door to the house opened and a man who looked a bit younger that Sean went to greet them.

“Sean! I’m so glad to see you again! Cousin! Look at you! The always proud and successful Mr. Sean Bean!” The other man was grinning as he joined the two.

“Arthur…come here and give me a hug.” Sean said as he opened his arms to accommodate the other man.

Orlando just stood at the car. He had known Sean for almost six years now. He is Viggo’s best friend and Viggo was quick to introduce his best friend to Orlando even if he was just courting him. Orlando never knew anything about Sean’s family because he was living alone. This was the first time that he was able to know Sean’s relatives.

“Who is he?” Arthur asked as he noticed Orlando.

“H- he’s… he’s Orlando…” Sean said as he went next to the younger man and circled his hands on Orlando’s waist. Orlando was too surprised to react.


“I didn’t know you have such great taste… Come inside…” Arthur said as he led the pair.

“Let’s go.” Sean said as he pulled the younger man with him. Orlando knew he had no choice. There’s no way he can ran away from Sean. And even if he does, he has nowhere to go. The place is so unfamiliar to him and after the recent events that had happened, he is also so afraid to trust anybody for help.

“You can stay here as long as you want… cousin… I told the housekeeper to clean the room. I hope you will enjoy your stay here…”

“ I will… My companion here needs to take a rest… We will see you at dinner… Prepare something delicious…”

“Of course I will… I will see you then..” Arthur replied before leaving the two to themselves.

When they reached the room, Sean faced Orlando. “There are some clothes on the bed. You can have your bath… then you can change… dinner will be ready soon. I will be outside and I will be back to fetch you for dinner.”

Before Orlando could react, Sean closed the door and locked it.

“Nooo!!! Sean please! Open this door please!” Orlando shouted as he banged the door.

“Orlando… Just do what I said…” Sean relied through the door and left.

For some time, Orlando tried to beg Sean. But nobody came close. Defeated, he went back to the bed and curled himself and cried. After some time, he decided to pick the towels and get cleaned up. He desperately wanted a bath.


“Sean…what was that all about?” Arthur asked his cousin as he heard Orlando. “Sean… who is he?!”

“Arthur…”

“Sean did he come here willingly?!” Arthur received no reply. “Oh my… Sean what the hell are you trying to do?!”

“I just wanted to protect him from people who wanted to hurt him! Please… will you listen to me?!” Sean replied.

“Okay. Convince me!”

Sean told him every single detail.

“B- but Sean… he… he is married… and with a kid… Sean you can’t just teach him to love you…” Arthur tried to explain.

“Arthur… I love him with all my life…”

“But… things are not always the way we wanted it to be… Sean, listen to me….”

“No… you listen to me… Orlando will learn to love me in time! He still does not know it but he will understand everything that I am doing!”

Arthur was stunned. He did not expect his cousin to act this way. What has affected his reasoning? He can clearly see the determination in Sean’s eyes. He certainly know Sean. And nothing… or no one could stop him from doing what he thinks is right especially now. Still the stubborn old Sean. So Arthur decided to keep his cool. If he will insist on anything right now, the will surely clash and Sean might end up bringing Orlando somewhere else. Or God knows, what he might attempt to do. He can also see that Orlando is also firm in holding his ground. Knowing Sean, the more he will be pushed to his limits, the more he will not listen to anyone’s explanations.

“Okay… Okay… I can see your point… j- just… just don’t hurt him… or I swear… I will do anything to stop you… even if you’re my cousin…” Arthur defeatedly said.

“No… I would never do that….”

Arthur was at least relieved to know that.

Sean opened the door to the room and saw Orlando already asleep on the bed. He can’t feel but be amazed of finally seeing the younger man in the room, all by himself. He dreams of one day feeling the other man’s affection.

He neared the bed and gently shook the younger man. “Baby… wake up… dinner’s ready…”

“Vig?” Orlando replied. He was dreaming of his husband.Sean’s expression turned sour upon hearing this.

“S Sean…” Orlando tried to sit up tried to move away from Sean. He was terrified upon seeing Sean’s expression. He cowered in one corner of the bed. Suddenly, all the memories of that horrible night came flooding back in to him.

“No… Please no… Please don’t hurt me… please…” Orlando pleaded with tearful eyes.

Sean did not expect this from Orlando. The last thing he wanted was to frighten the younger man. But he can’t help himself to be mad upon hearing Orlando mentioning Viggo.

“Orlando… I won’t hurt you…. Please… I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to scare you…”
Sean said as he went near Orlando. “I’m Sean… I would never hurt you…” He rubbed the other man’s back… He knew that touching him in any other way would do Orlando no good. He needs to calm down.

After a while, Orlando became calm. He was silent when Sean led him to the dinning room. He ate almost nothing. Sean tried to convince him to eat but the younger man just ignored him. Much to Sean’s dismay.

That night, Sean laid lazily on the big bed. Orlando just stood.

“Come here. I know you’re tired. Let’s get some rest. This is a big bed.” Sean offered.

“No! I would never lie there with you!” Orlando protested.

“Then you can just stand there all night!”

“Sean… please…. I want to go home… I miss my son… and Viggo….” Orlando started to cry again.

“S- stop it. You’ll get over with that home sickness soon enough. You will learn to love your new life… Free from all the pain in the past.”

“You want the impossible Sean! You’re delusional! I hate you! I hate you so much! I thought you were my friend! I thought you cared for me! Why are you hurting me like this?!”

Sean stood from the bed and went near the younger man who was holding himself and was crying helplessly.

“Orlando….you… you don’t understand…”

“No… It’s you who do not understand! I don’t want to be with any other! I just want to be with my family! If you would separate me from them…. You might as well kill me!!!”



TBC